9 Incredible Ways Animals Use Tools

Bottlenose dolphins have been observed tearing off pieces of sponge and using it to wrap around their delicate noses to prevent abrasions when hunting fish on the sea floor. To ensure these sponge masks offer the appropriate protection, the dolphins spend a considerable amount of time searching for the perfect fit for their individual noses.

Photo Credit: Tambako the Jaguar via Flickr

Macaques living near a Buddhist shrine in Thailand use human hair to keep their pearly whites in tip top condition. The monkeys climb onto people’s backs, pluck out a strand of hair, then retreat to somewhere quiet to spend a few minutes flossing their teeth. Researchers have noticed that this is a taught behavior that has been passed down from the monkey’s moms.

7. Crabs Use Seaweed to Make Camo Jacket

Aptly named, decorator crabs are known to use seaweed, sponges and anemones to fashion themselves the equivalent of a camo jacket in order to blend into their surroundings. This incredible little critter pulls up the aquatic plants and attaches them via small hooks that act as a temporary adhesive on its shell. This nifty disguise helps the decorator crab stay off the menu, especially when entering a new environment.

8. Gorillas Use Sticks to Gauge Water Depth

You only need to turn on the Discovery Channel to learn just how intelligent these remarkable primates are when it comes to problem solving. Scientists have observed gorillas using sticks to test the depth of water before wading across. One female gorilla was seen poking the ground in front of her with the stick before taking each step.

9. Otters Use Stones to Open Clams

When they’re not looking super cute floating around on their backs and holding hands, sea otters are using stones that are placed on their chest as a means of dislodging and cracking open mussels. The same stone is also retained and used for several successive food items, including crabs and urchins.

while animals are incredible, i think it is sad that people seem so SHOCKED that they are (omg) intelligent. Why are we so arrogant, to think we alone can have/use/make tools. They have done it longer. Why do we think we are so much better? WE are the ones destroying EVERYthing